(a) Designated lead applicant agencies shall submit applications to the commission within two years of the effective date of the act that added this section. If a completed application is not received within this period for a project listed in Article 5 (commencing with Section 14556.40), or an alternate project has not been submitted by the appropriate lead agency pursuant to subdivision (b), the commission shall notify the Governor and the Legislature and shall seek statutory identification and approval of another project or projects to use the funds.

(b) (1) A designated lead applicant agency may submit an application for an alternate or substitute for a project specified in Section 14556.40, for other than an intercity rail project, if the specified project is delayed by environmental or other factors external to the control of the lead applicant agency that are not likely to be removed within a reasonable time, if sufficient matching funds are not available to secure the designated state grant funds, if the specified project is not included in or consistent with the respective regional transportation plan, or if completion of the specified project would jeopardize the completion of other projects previously programmed in the State Transportation Improvement Program.

(2) An application for an alternative project shall be approved by the commission if the application is submitted by the identified lead applicant agency within the two-year period specified in subdivision (a), the alternative project is designated to relieve congestion consistent with this act, the alternate project is within the jurisdiction of the lead applicant agency, and all other project approval requirements are met.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 91, Sec. 6. Effective July 7, 2000.)